France's Areva, India sign nuclear reactor deal

French nuclear giant Areva says it has signed a preliminary deal to provide India with at least two new-generation nuclear reactors.

worldUpdated: Feb 04, 2009 15:28 IST

AFP

French nuclear giant Areva says it has signed a preliminary deal to provide India with at least two new-generation nuclear reactors.

The Paris-based company says the deal will allow Areva to help build two to six reactors at the Jaitapur site in the western state of Maharastra.

Areva said in a statement the deal was signed on Wednesday. It not provide any further details or give the estimated value of the deal.

India has refused to sign nonproliferation agreements and had faced a nuclear trade ban since its first atomic test in 1974. In September, the countries that supply nuclear technologies agreed to lift the ban, paving the way for lucrative contracts with India.